Concrete-handling machine



Dec. 1, 1925.

c. WILLARD CONCRETE HANDLING MACHINE Filed June 4, 1925 [Yuan 70/Jim/h1g4 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

CARL L. WILLARD, OF LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

CONCRETE-HANDLING MACHINE.

Application filed June 4, 1925. Serial No. 34,797.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, CARL L. WILLARD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lynwood, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Concrete-Handling Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in concrete handling machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine which consists of acombined vehicle, such as a truck, which is self-propelled, and aconcrete mixer, and to provide means for operating the concrete mixerupon the truck by the motor or propeller means of the vehicle.

It has been customary for contractors and the like, in building concretestructures, such as roads, streets and other constructions requiringconcrete, to mix the concrete. at a contra plant or at some definitelocation, and after the concrete has been mixed to carry it to thatlocation where the concrete is to be 25 poured. This procedure has beengenerally followed for the reason that it saves labor,- time and waste.One disadvantage of this procedure results in the fact that when thereis a long haul, the concrete, after being mixed, becomes partially setin the conveying vehicle, so that when theconcrete is poured, it isnecessary to mix it up again so as to break the partial set. In someinstances where city ordinances require that concrete be poured within adefinite time after it is mixed, this question of a long haul and thepartial set becomes an important matter for consideration.

By the improved device it is possible to place the ingredients of theconcrete in the mixer and mix it while it is being conveyed. In thismanner the concrete can be continually mixed while itis being carriedwithout becoming partially set, and furthermore the time element ismaterially reduced. vAs previously explained, it has been customary tofirst mix the concrete, taking some time, and then convey the concrete,takin additional time. By the improved machlne the concrete is mixed atthe same time that it is being conveyed, thus reducing the time whichhas before been used for mixing alone. Furthermore, it will be readilyappreciated that in a long haul, the mixer can be used continually,permitting a more eflicient and thorough mixing of the ingredientswithout taking up additional time.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyin drawingsfor an illustrative embodiment o the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of altralck to which theinvention has been app 1e Fig. 2 is a plan View ofthe chassis oroperating mechanism of the truck, showing the mechanism for driving theconcrete mixer,

. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatioal view illustratmg the operating mechanism,and

-Fig. 4 1s a sectional View illustrating a detail of construction, andmay be considered as taken upon the line 44 of Fi 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, it will be understoodthat the improved invention may be embodied upon any form ofself-propelled vehicle, but as the machine was primarily designed to beembodied upon a Ford truck, it may as well be described as being inconnection with a Fordtruck for simplicity of disclosure. In Fig. 1there is shown a portion of a Ford truck, on the forward end of which ismounted a motor, not shown. Behind the motor there is mountedthe'conventional Ford transmission, commonly known as the planetarytransmission, and which is so constructed as to permit reversing. Behindthe Ford transmission there is mounted upon the truck a secondarytransmission, indicated generally at 10. -The secondary transmissionforms no part of the present invention other than its association.

The secondary transmission 10 is provided with a counter shaft, notshown, and is a speed change transmission, enabling the drive shaft 11,which'is connected through the rear axle 12 to the rear wheels 13, to bedriven by the Ford motor. The secondary transmission 10, which Ipreferably employ, is a transmission which is primarily designed toincrease the number of speeds on a Ford truck.. Such a transmission isconstructed and placed upon the market under the name .of \Varfordtransmission, and is manufactured by the Warford Gorporation of New Yorkcity, N. Y. A power take-01f, indicated at 14, is also provided, whichenables power to be taken off of the counter shaft of the secondarytransmission 10 for various purposes. The power take-0E 14 is providedwith a handle 15 whereby its secondary drive shaft 16 may be connectedto the counter shaft of the secondary transmission 10. All of the aboveis of conventional construction, and is believed to require no furtherdescription.

Adjacent the rear of the truck above the axle 12, there is mounted asecondary axle 17. This axle carries a worm wheel 18 driven by a worm19, which in turn is connected by the rod 20 to the secondary driveshaft 16. Suitable universal joints 21 may be provided. A suitable framework, generally designated at 22, is. provided with bearings 23 whichare rotatable upon the secondary axle 17, permitting the frame work tobe tilted with respect to the truck, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 1. Beveled gears 24 are mounted upon the secondary axle 17 adjacentits ends and small shafts 25, which are mounted as by bearings 26 uponthe frame work 22, carry beveled pinions 27 which mesh with the beveledgears 24. Spur gears 28 are also mounted upon the small shafts 25, whichmesh with spur gears 29 mounted upon shafts 30. The shafts 30 arerotatably mounted in bearings 31, also mounted upon the frame work 22.

l/Vithin the frame work 22 there is disposed a mixer barrel 33 which maybe of any desired construction similar to the conventional concretemixer, which has its rearward end reduced, as at 34, to form a spout.'The rearward end of the mixer barrel 33 is adapted to be closed by aremovable closure 35. On the mixer barrel 33 there is providedan annulartrack 36 adjacent which is formed an annular gear 37. The track 36 isadapted to roll upon or ride on the cylinders or rollers 38 mounted uponthe shafts 30, and gears 39, which are mounted upon the shafts 30adjacent the rollers or cylinders 38, mesh with the annular gear 37. Atthe forward end of the frame work 22 there is mounted a bearing-box,indicated at 40,, containing roller bearings 41, which bear upon thesides of a trunnion 42 mounted on the forward end of the barrel 33. Uponboth sides of the bearing box 40 there are positioned bearing races 43,between which are disposed balls 44, providing thrust bearings for thebarrel. Lock nuts 45 are threaded onto the trunnion 42 to maintain theraces 43 and the balls 44 together.

The operation of the above described construction is as follows: Thetruck may be backed up to a bulwark, as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 1, to receive its charge of rock, sand, cement and water, or suchingredients as are desired in the mix. The removable cover 35 can thenbe positioned upon the barrel 33 and the truck driven away. Beforedriving the truck away the handle 15 can be manipulated to cause thesecondary drive shaft 16 to be driven by the counter shaft in thesecondary transmission 10. This causes the worm 19 to berotated whilethe vehicle is moving, and thus drives the secondary axle 17, causingthe shafts 25 and 30 to rotate and thus produce rotation of the barrel33, causing the mixing of the ingredients of the concrete therein. Ifdesired, the handle 15 can be manipulated to cause the driveshaft 16 tobe disengaged from the counter shaft in the secondary transmission 10,so that the truck can travel without causing the mixer barrel 33 torotate.

As aimeans for tilting the barrel 33 to discharge its contents, a spoolor reel 46 is loosely mounted upon the secondary axle 17. A clutchmechanism 47 is associated with the spool 46 upon the secondary axle 17and is capable of rigidly holding the spool 46 against rotation thereon.The clutch mechanism 47 which may be of conventional construction isadapted to be operated by a rod 48 which is connected to a lever 49pivoted upon the side of the housing of the secondary transmission 1().Transverse shafts 50, 51 and 52 are mounted upon the frame of thevehicle and these shafts carry pulleys 53, 54 and 55 respectively. Anupright 56 is mounted upon the vehicle forwardly of the barrel 33, andthis upright has pivotally mounted thereon a pulley 57. A cable or otherflexible element is wound about the spool 46 and has one end passingbeneath the pulleys 53 and 55, this end extending upwardly over thepulley 57 and being fastened to the frame work 22, as indicated at 58.The other end of the flexible element passes beneath the pulley 54 andis fastened to the frame work 22, as indicated at 59. x

The operation of tilting the concrete mixer at the desired location isas follows: secondary transmission 10 is placed in neutral position, andthe planetary transmission of the Ford truck is caused to be placed ingear, so that the counter shaft of the secondary transmission 10 will berotated by the motor without causing the 'drive Wheels 13 of the truckto turn. The handle 15 is manipulated so as to cause the secondary driveshaft 16 to be rotated, thus rotating the secondary axle 17 The rotationof'the secondary axle 17 produces rotation of the mixer barrel 33, asabove described. The lever 49 is then manipulated, causing the clutchmechanism 47 to engage,

The

thus causing the spool 46 to rotate with the secondary axle 17. Rotationof the spool winds up one end'of the flexible element or cable, andunwinds the 'other' end, producing the tilting movement of the framework 22 and ,the barrel 33 into the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1,causing the contents to be discharged. In order to re-' turn the framework 22 and the mixer barrel 33 to their initial positions, theplanetary transmission 'of the Ford truck is merely placed in reverse,thus reversing the rotation ofthe counter shaft in the secondarytransmission 10 and reversing rotation of the secondary axle 17. Theclutch mechanism 47 is then caused to engage and force the spool 46 torotate with the secondary axle 17, returning the frame work 22 and themixer barrel 33 to their initial positions.

If desired, the frame 22 may have its rearward end provided with atransverse member 60, in which are formed holes 61. The transversemember 60 is rotatably mounted ripen the frame work 22 as by bearings62.he holes 61 are adapted to receive pins or spikes upon trough sections,which enable the sections of a trough to be detachably fastened to theframe 22 so as to receive the contents of the mixer barrel 33, when thisbarrel is tilted. It will be understood that the troughs are adapted toconvey the mixed concrete from the mixer to the exact location where itis poured.

From the above it will be readily appreciated'that a combined vehicleand concrete mixer is provided, which will enable the motor of a vehicleto drive the concrete mixer so that the concrete can be mixed while itis being conveyed. It will, of course, be understood that the inventionis not limited to the embodiment upon Ford tracks, but other suitableself-propelled vehicles may be employed and other gear or transmissionmechanisms can be employed, which will enable the secondary drive shaft16 to be driven by the motor of the vehicle,

It will beunderstood that various changes in the detail of constructionmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a self-propelled vehicle, a concrete mixer barreltiltably mounted upon the vehicle, means for rotating the mixer barrel bthe propelling means on the "ehicle, where the mixer may be operatedwhile the vehicle is traveling, and means operable b the propellingmeans upon the vehicle for tilting the mixer barrel and returning it toits normal position.

2. In combination with a self-pro elled vehicle, a concrete ,mixerbarrel ti tably mounted upon the vehicle, means for rotating the mixerbarrel by the propelling means on the vehicle whereby the mixer may beoperated while the vehicle is traveling, and means operable by thepropelling. means upon the vehicle for tilting the mixer barrel andreturning it to its normal position while the mixer barrel is beingrotated;

3. Acombined vehicle and concrete mixer comprising a vehicle, a motormounted upon the vehicle, a reversing transmission mounted adjacent themotor, a secondar transmission having a counter sha mounted behind thefirst mentioned transmission, means connecting' the secondarytransmission to the drive wheels of the vehicle, a secondary drive shaftadapted to be driven by the counter shaft on the secondary transmission,a secondary axle mounted upon the vehicle, means for rotat in saidsecondary axle by said secondary drive shaft, a frame pivotally mountedupon said secondary axle, a mixer barrel rotatably mounted upon saidframe, and gear means associated with .said secondary axle and saidmixer barrel whereby the mixer barrel may be rotated by the motor of thevehicle.

4. A combined vehicle and concrete mixer comprising a vehicle, a motormounted upon the vehicle, a reversing transmission mounted adjacent themotor, a secondar transmission having a counter sha mounted behind thefirst mentioned transmission, means connecting the secondarytransmission to the drive wheels of the vehicle, a secondary drive shaftadapted tobe driven by the counter shaft on the secondary transmission,a secondary axle mounted upon the vehicle, means for rotatin saidsecondary axle by said secondary drive shaft, a frame pivotally mountedupon said secondary axle, a mixer barrel rotatably mounted upon saidframe, and gear means associated with said secondary axle and said mixerbarrel whereby the mixer barrel may be rotated by the motor of thevehicle while the vehicle is moving.

5. A combined vehicle and concrete mixer comprising a vehicle, a motormounted upon the vehicle, a reversing transmission mounted adjacent themotor, a secondar transmission having a counter sha mounted behind thefirst mentioned transmission, means connecting the secondarytransmission to the drive wheels of the vehicle, a secondary drive shaftadapted to be driven by the counter shaft on the secondary transmission,a secondar axle mounted upon the vehicle, means for rotatin saidsecondary axle by said secondary drive shaft, a frame ivotally mountedupon said secondary ax e, a mixer barrel rotatably mounted upon saidframe, gear means associated with said secondary axle and said mixerbarrel whereby the mixer barrel may be rotated by the motor of the therebeing a spool mounted upon said secondary axle,

wound uponsaid spool and having its ends.

connected to said frame, and clutch means for causing said spool torotate with said secondary axle whereby said frame and mixer barrel maybe tilt-ed on the vehicle and returned to its normal position.

6. In combination with a self-propelled vehicle, a concrete mixer barreltiltably mounted upon the vehicle capable of assuming a downwardly andrearwardly inclined dumping position, means for rotating the mixerbarrel by the propelling means upon the vehicle whereby the mixer may beoperated while the vehicle is' traveling, and

means operable by the propelling means upon the vehicle for tilting themixer barrel and returning 1t to its normal position.

7. In combination with a self-pro elled vehicle, a concrete mixer barrelti tably mounted upon ing a downwardly and rearwardly inclined dumpingposition, means for rotating the mixer barrel by the propelling meansupon the vehicle whereby the mixer may be operated while the vehicle istraveling, and means operable by the propelling vmeans upon the vehiclefor tilting the mixer barrel and returning it to its normal positionwhile the mixer barrel is being rotated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CARL L. WILLARD.

the vehicle capable of assum-

